Brady President Praises Police Chiefs After Release of New Report

Sep 19, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, called today's report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Taking a Stand: Reducing Gun Violence in Our Communities, a "clear road map from the nation's police chiefs of steps we can take now to combat gun violence."

"Our nation's police are on the front lines in the fight for public safety. In this landmark report, police leaders are saying they are tired of the nation's gun policies being held hostage by the special interest gun lobby," Helmke said.

"The police chiefs have set out a strong, reasonable, agenda for action," Helmke continued. "The Brady Campaign supports it, as should every American who wants sensible action to save lives."

Among the 39 specific recommendations in the report:

• Congress, as well as state, local, and tribal governments, should enact laws requiring that all gun sales and transfers proceed through a Federally licensed firearms dealer, thus ensuring that a mandatory Brady background check will be conducted on the transferee.
• Congress should enact an effective ban on military-style assault weapons. (Last week, on the third anniversary of the expiration of the previous Federal assault weapons ban, four police officers were shot in Miami, one fatally, by a criminal armed with an assault weapon.)
• Congress should enact effective bans on .50 caliber sniper rifles and armor-piercing handgun ammunition.
• Congress should enact legislation to allow federal health and safety oversight of the firearms industry.
• State and local governments should regulate and/or limit the sale of multiple handguns as a measure to reduce gun trafficking.
• The Federal government should increase funding to ATF for personnel and technical assistance to combat gun violence.
• Congress should repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the sharing on gun trace data.
• State and local governments should mandate that every gun sold comes with a local or security device that meets minimum safety standards to help protect against accidental discharge and misuse.

The report, which is available on the IACP's website at www.theiacp.org, was released at a news conference today in Washington, D.C. IACP law enforcement representatives, two U.S. Senators, three U.S. representatives and the Mayor of Milwaukee stressed the importance and urgency of the recommendations. Helmke attended the news conference along with other representatives of the Brady Campaign.

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As the nation's largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws, regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in our communities.

For continuing insight and comment on the gun issue, read Paul Helmke's blog at www.bradycampaign.org/blog/. Visit the Brady Campaign website at www.bradycampaign.org.